Chains Broken, Sent Out: The Gerasene's Unexpected Mission - [Mark 5:1-20]

Storms don’t stop Jesus; they reveal why he came. We follow him across the Sea of Galilee into the tombs of the Gerasenes, where a tormented man recognizes what critics miss and bows before the Son of the Most High God. From there, everything turns: Legion yields, pigs plunge, and a man once feared sits clothed and clear-minded. Rather than boarding the boat, he’s commissioned to go home and tell his people what mercy did—proof that deliverance is not an exit sign but a mission order.

We anchor the journey in the Great Commission and explore how authority and compassion move together. Along the way, we pause with the widow of Nain as Jesus interrupts a funeral, and we stand with a desperate father while a mute spirit is forced to obey a single command. Then we step into church history: Hudson Taylor risking provision to learn trust, a crew at sea softened by quiet service until the hostile first mate sings, and Elfreda in Hong Kong set free from heroin, emerging as a fearless servant to the forgotten. Each story echoes the same theme—Jesus brings new life and then sends that life into the world.

If your storm feels endless or your chains feel final, take courage. Power belongs to Jesus, prayer is heard, and your most credible pulpit might be your own street. We talk practical next steps for becoming a faithful witness where trust is thin and attention is costly: clear testimony, simple prayer, steady presence, and worship that values people over profit. Ready to trade fear for purpose and turn your rescue into a roadmap for others? Hit play, share this episode with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find these stories of deliverance and mission.

Regularly join Dr. Novella Springette as she does in-depth Bible teaching with the intent of fostering Christian discipleship.

Transcript

Three Truths We Will Unpack

Storm Calmed, Savior Pursues

The Gerasene’s Torment Described

Recognition And Reverence Of Jesus

Widow Of Nain: Hope Restored

Trusting God: Hudson Taylor

Legion Confronted, Power Displayed

Why Pigs, Why Permission

Another Deliverance: The Mute Boy

Shipboard Revival And Transformation

Sent To Witness In Decapolis

When Profit Blinds Worship

Elfreda’s Healing And New Life

Call To Be Empowered Witnesses

Prayer, Declarations, And Blessing

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Have we been delivered and empowered to be Jesus' witnesses? Jesus, when he was leaving this earth, left specific instructions with his disciples regarding what our focus should be while we are here on earth. We are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything that Jesus commanded. Jesus' disciples who were the initial recipients of this commission had spent the last three years in constant companionship with Jesus and so were qualified to implement these instructions. In Mark 5, 1 to 20, Jesus went looking for a man who had been tormented for many years and needed to be set free so that he too could tell others about Jesus. In this podcast, we will learn how Jesus comes to deliver and empower us so that we too can tell others about the goodness of Jesus. Today we will uncover three powerful truths directly from this text. One, Jesus comes to us in our distress. Two, Jesus is the ultimate power in the universe. Three, Jesus delivers and empowers us to be his weaknesses. Stick with me as we analyze these truths through the text of this passage. Imagine being chained in darkness, tormented by unseen forces, screaming through the night until the one who calms the chaos arrives uninvited. What if Jesus is pursuing us right now in the midst of our own storms? In Mark 5, 1 to 6, we are told of a man who was held captive against his will by forces that were committed to destroying him. Jesus came across the sea to set him free. In the prior chapter, we learned that Jesus had been teaching beside the Sea of Galilee, where he drew great crowds. That evening he told his disciples to travel to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. We are told that on this journey it appeared as if they were in danger of dying, as a great storm arose and filled the boat with water. Jesus slept through all of this turmoil. Finally, the disciples woke Jesus up and asked him if he didn't care that they were all about to perish. Jesus then rebuked the winds and waves, commanded them to be quiet and still, which they immediately were, to the astonishment of all who were on the boat. Is there a storm in our lives currently that we need Jesus to bring peace to? It is now the next day, and Jesus and the disciples have arrived at their destination on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which was the region of the Gerosenes. As soon as they arrived on this side of the Sea of Galilee and left the boat, a man with an impure spirit, that is a demon-possessed man, came running to meet them. This is the most detailed description of a demon-possessed man we have in the Bible. The story of this demon-possessed man is also found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The man lived among the tombs, among the decaying and dead, contrary to Jewish law. In those days and even to this day, living among the tombs was considered to be a sign of madness and uncleanness. Additionally, unclean spirits were taught to rule over the dead, so it was not considered a safe place to be spending time. Living among tombs is also contrary to human instincts. Humans don't normally spend extended time in a cemetery, and this is especially true at night. Let's reflect on what could have caused this man to behave in a manner that is so contrary to normal human behavior. Mark then uses two entire verses, verses 3 to 4, to emphasize how strong this man was. The man had supernatural strength. Every time they chained him hand and foot, he would break the chains on his hands and rip the irons on his feet to pieces. The material that was being used to bound him, iron, was the strongest that was then available to mankind, and yet this man was able to tear them apart like they were paper. Additionally, no one human being could subdue this demon-possessed man. The Greek word for subdue that is used here is normally used to refer to the subjugation of animals such as horses and mules. The Gospel of Matthew informs us that this man's ferocity had closed the area to human traffic. People avoided the area where this man roamed. They found an alternative route to get to wherever they were traveling. Is Jesus the source of our supernatural strength? This man was unable to rest. All night and all day he was crying out in the tombs and surrounding hills. The Greek word used here for crying out means an unearthly yell or to scream on the strong emotional excitement. He can also refer to inarticulate cries, the cry of an animal, the barking of a dog, and the sound of two men in a quarrel who are trying to outshout each other. Not only was this man constantly shouting and yelling, he was also consistently engaging in self-mutilation. Scripture tells us that he was continually hacking, cutting, and slashing his body with stones. The Gospel of Luke notes that this man wore no clothes and lived like a wild animal. Luke also tells us that the man had been demon-possessed for a long time. Is there anything in our lives that has been bothering us for an extended period of time? From a distance, the demon-possessed man recognized Jesus. Jesus had been walking among his own the Jews, the highly educated and religious Pharisees and scribes who kept saying that Jesus was of the devil. But this demon-possessed man recognized Jesus immediately. This man ran towards the Savior of the world, the one that could make him whole again and give him back his right mind. The man acknowledged Jesus as who he is, Adonai, Elohim, El Shaddai, creator of heaven and earth. The demon-possessed man fell on his knees and worshiped Jesus. The Greek word that is used here shows that this man truly reverenced Jesus. He not only fell on his knees, but touched the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence. The man came running to Jesus, shrieking, making unintelligible noises. His demonic possession was fully on display. This man understood that Jesus had sought him out. Are we aware that Jesus is reaching out to us in our distress? All throughout the Bible, we find God coming to the aid of persons who are in distress. In Luke 7, we are told the story of the widow of Nain. Luke tells us that the funeral procession was making the way to the place where the son was to be buried when Jesus passed by. Previously, this widow had lost and buried her husband. Now she had lost her only son and was on her way to bury him as well. This widow of Nain was devastated. She had been completely wiped out. It seemed that all hope was lost. It was not just that she had lost a son and a husband, it was that she had lost all means of living. Her sources of income had come to an end. It is said that women who found themselves in that position at that point in time in Israel's history would often have to resort to a life of prostitution in order to survive. This must have been the darkest hour of her life. Luke records that Jesus saw the depths of her anguish and her despair, and his heart was touched for her grief, her pain, and her sorrow. Jesus told the widow to weep no more. Jesus went and touched the bear that they were carrying the son in. The beer that the dead body was on, that is referred to here, was essentially a stretcher on which the body was born. In those days, Jewish funerals had an open coffin so that everyone could see the deceased for the last time. Jesus spoke to the dead and commanded the young man to get up. The young man then sat up and started talking, at which point Jesus gave him back to his mother. Jesus raised this young man so as to restore hope to the mother as only he could. What in our lives do we need Jesus to bring back to life from the dead? Church history documents how God all throughout the ages consistently comes to rescue those who are in need. Hudson Taylor, who is considered to be the most successful missionary to ever work in China, decided as a young man that he would trust God to provide for him as he prepared to travel to China. While he was still in England, his boss, Dr. Hardy, usually paid Hudson his wages, which covered his rent and meals once every four months. As part of stepping out on faith, Hudson determined that he would not remind his boss to pay his wages, but he would trust God to meet his day-to-day needs. Matters began to look bleak. Hudson's wages were a week overdue, and Dr. Hardy had not remembered to pay Hudson his wages. It was Saturday night. The rent was due in the morning, and the money that Hudson had on him was not enough to cover the rent. The next day, Sunday, Hudson went to church and was on his way back home, and still no additional money had materialized. Just then a man came running up to Hudson and asked him to come and pray for his sick wife. When Hudson saw the conditions that the man was living in with a wife and sick baby, Hudson felt led to give this man the money that he had in his pocket. However, that would leave Hudson no money whatsoever for food or rent. Hudson determined that he needed to trust God with no money in his pocket, just as he would with some money in his pocket. The next morning, very early, the landlady knocked on his door with a letter. From that letter fell a coin, which was worth four times as much as the money he had given away the previous evening. Hudson was able to pay his rent and buy food. God met Hudson's needs while he was in distress. Are we prepared to trust God to come true for us when we are in desperate need? Envision a horde of evil spirits begging for mercy, acknowledging the Son of the Most High God, because they know that his power is unmatched. Are we grasping the sheer dominance Jesus holds over every force in existence? Mark 5, 7 to 13 shows us how Jesus reigns supreme even over the unseen realms. In this passage, Jesus commands the evil spirits to move on from this demon-possessed man. This man who came to Jesus shrieking and gobbling suddenly switched to coherent language. This was not the man speaking, but the demons talking to the man. These demons immediately established Jesus' sovereignty. The demons paid tribute to God in human flesh, Jesus Christ. They referred to Jesus as Son of the Most High God. Are we giving to Jesus the honor that he deserves? In those days the Jews believed that in order to cast out a demon, the exorcists had to know the demon's name. Jesus asked the demon who was speaking to the man for his name. Instead of giving a particular name, the demon that was being vocal informed Jesus that the appropriate title was Legion, as there were many demons inhabiting this man's body. At that time, a legion was a Roman regiment of 6,000 soldiers. This demon was declaring that there were 6,000 demons inhabiting this man's body. Some theologians believe that the demon who was speaking was the commander of this legion of demons and that the other demons were reporting to him. Is our speech inspired by the Holy Spirit? This location with the tombs must have been particularly appealing to the demons, and so they were extremely reluctant to leave the area. The demons were actually exercising the basic principles of prayer. They asked the prayer hearing and answering God Jesus Christ specifically for what they wanted and did so persistently. We must pay careful attention to the fact that the demons were acknowledging that they were in the presence of the Most High God. Are we specifically and consistently asking God to address our needs? These demons begged for the terms of exorcism to be modified. They could not overrule the first command that they received, which was to leave the man. However, a large herd of pigs were feeding on a nearby hillside. The demons came up with a brilliant idea that they should be allowed to enter the swine. Jesus eventually gave these demons permission to enter the pigs. The demons had always intended to kill this man. They had been toying with their prey before going in for the final blow, but Jesus had come to the rescue. As the demons had been deprived of their main target, they took out their anger on the pigs, about two thousand in number, and drove them off the cliff and into the sea where they drowned. The demons were determined to take out something, anything, and so the pigs became the sacrifice, the consolation price, so to speak, as they were no longer able to destroy the man. Satan and his minions come to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus comes to give new life. Have we acquired new life in Jesus? All throughout the New Testament, Jesus consistently delivered those who were in bondage to Satan. In Mark 9, 14 to 29, we are told the story of a man who brought his son to Jesus to be delivered. The boy was demon-possessed and was showing specific elements of such possession. The boy had been robbed of his speech. This was a big deal, as it was believed at that time that to cast out a demon you had to know the name. During the exorcism, the exorcist would ask the demon for its name so that he could command it to come out. By making the boy mute, the demon was ensuring that no name could be utilized whereby it could be removed from the boy. Whenever the demon felt like it, he would throw the boy to the ground. This was no gentle throwing to the ground. It was done with malice of forethought, as the boy's body would be dashed against the ground with great force. The demon would also make the boy form at the mouth, gnash his teeth, and become rigid. The demon had tried on numerous occasions to eliminate the boy, as he would throw the boy into fire and into water. The father and all who took care of the boy had to constantly be on guard so that the child would not die during these murderous episodes. It would appear that all his life the demon had been controlling this poor boy with the intent of destroying him. Is Jesus in control of our lives? They were to bring the boy to Jesus. When the demon saw that Jesus was there, it decided to show off. The scripture states that immediately. Immediately the demon dashed the boy to the ground and made the boy roll around and foam at the mouth. It looked as if nothing had changed for the boy, even though he was in the presence of Jesus. Jesus then commanded the deaf and mute spirit to come out and to never enter the boy again. The spirit had no choice but to obey. At the command of Jesus, Messiah, Master, the evil spirit had to leave the young boy alone forever. Is there anything in our lives that we need God to remove in its entirety for all eternity? Church history provides us with similar examples of miraculous transformation on the part of those who have been touched by Jesus. On May 25, 1866, the first batch of missionaries from the China Inland Mission set sail from England for Shanghai, China. The crew members of the ship were basically unhappy. The entire passenger list was comprised of missionaries. They were stuck on a ship with these missionaries for the next four months. 18 Bible-carrying missionaries with four children singing hymns did not sound like a particularly lively voyage to the crew. These crew members even expressed their concerns to the captain who was on move as he was a Christian. One of the missionaries started holding a nightly Bible study, and to her surprise, many of the soldiers would attend. They initially were attending because she was rather pretty. Hudson Taylor, the head of the mission, acted as a ship's doctor and gave medical lectures, which many of the crew attended. Some of the male missionaries helped to fix the bilge pump and forged parts for the crane hooks so that they worked perfectly. Slowly but surely, the missionaries won the respect of the crew. The crew stopped complaining about the hymn singing. Soon they too were singing the hymns. One by one, more and more crewmen asked Jesus Christ into their lives. Before the voyage was even half over, twenty three crewmen had asked Jesus into their lives. However, the first mate, the second in command, Mr. Brunton, was not in favor of what was happening. He became increasingly angry and began bullying the members of the crew who had become Christians. The missionaries started praying for him in a concerted manner and slowly he softened. One night Hudson Taylor was reading the Bible to him, and Mr. Brunton became converted. The next day, Mr. Brunton called the entire crew together and apologized for his prior behavior. An amazing change took place in his life. He attended every meeting, singing as loudly as he could, and was often the last to leave. An encounter with Jesus changed everything for Mr. Brunton. Have we been transformed by coming in contact with Jesus? Echoes of chaos turn to whispers of awe as a freed man begs to follow Jesus but is sent back to testify instead. Are we prepared for the moment when deliverance launches us into a mission field? In Mark 5, 14 to 20, we are told that the keepers of the pigs ran off to the town to report what had happened. They probably wanted the townspeople to know that they were in no way responsible for the loss of 2,000 pigs. Additionally, they wanted these people to come and see the person who they felt was responsible for the destruction. The town people came to where Jesus and his disciples were located and found the man who was formerly possessed by a legion of demons, seated, clothed, and in his right mind. His appearance was testimony to Jesus' power to deliver. Have we encountered Jesus and been delivered? These town people wanted Jesus gone. At their request, Jesus immediately left. The man who had been demon-possessed then asked to accompany Jesus. But Jesus didn't allow him to do so. Jesus told the formerly demon-possessed man to go to his own people and let them know what the Lord had done for him. These people listened to the man because they were familiar with his story. The man was obedient. He went away and began to witness about Jesus in the Decapolis. The Decapolis was made up of ten Greek cities which were located on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. Damascus was one of these cities. This was Gentile territory that this man who was also a Gentile was bearing witness. This man could do what Jesus did not have time to do while he was in the flesh, which was to be a witness to the Gentiles. Jesus' mission while he on earth was to the Jews, with the ultimate aim of being crucified to redeem mankind back to God. Are we being witnesses for Jesus among our own people? The citizens of the town were unmoved by the sight of the man in his right mind. They were probably focused on the fact that they had lost a lot of money when the pigs ran off the cliff and down into the sea. In light of the lost revenue, they asked Jesus to please leave. In John 12, we are told the story of Mary anointing Jesus with Spike Nod. This spike nod was worth 300 denarii. In those days, a denarius was what a laborer earned for one day's work. The laborer would have had to work for an entire year and not spend any of it to afford the perfume that Mary poured out on Jesus' feet. This act of worship greatly annoyed Judas, one of Jesus' disciples. Judas spoke up to condemn Mary. Judas even had a good story. This money could have been given to the poor. This fabrication by Judas sounded so wonderful that the Gospels of Matthew and Mark recalled that those who were present joined Judas in his sanctimonious rationale. Essentially, the onlookers went along with Judas's lies and looked down on Mary's genuine worship. John states that Judas was the keeper of the money bag. Judas systematically and consistently stole from this purse. Judas had no intention of helping any poor person. He simply wanted to pocket the funds for himself. Judas was comfortable while in the presence of Jesus with stealing regularly. Judas never saw Jesus as he truly is, as he was blinded by greed. Have we truly seen Jesus as who he is? All throughout Christian history, Jesus keeps on giving new life to those who were once tormented. Jackie Pelinger, who served as a missionary in the Kowloon Wall City in Hong Kong in the 1960s, tells the story of Elfreda. Elfrieda had been on heroin for much of her life. When Elfrieda came to Jackie to get off drugs, she was so weak and frail that she had to be lifted and taken around. Jackie and her friend laid Elfreda on the bed, spoke peace to her, and she was healed from that moment. Elfrieda started visiting old people's home, bathing the elderly and praying with them. Elfreda and her team also ministered to street sleepers and visited some of the older women she had worked with in the wall city. Elfreda would bathe these women wash their hair and tell them of her new life and her Jesus. Elfreda loved much because she had been forgiven much. Elfreda, while serving others, shed pain, bitterness and self-pity. She also shed years and became so attractive that at 70 she was married. Elfreda is testimony to how all things can become new. Elfreda was delivered by Jesus, left her old way of life behind, and became a powerful witness for Jesus. Have we been delivered and become empowered witnesses for Jesus? We started by asking if we have been delivered and empowered to be Jesus' witnesses. This passage shows us how Jesus, the ultimate power in the universe, comes to us in our distress and delivers us so that we can serve as his witnesses. Today, let us ask God to remove any obstacles that may exist in our lives so that we can fully dedicate ourselves to being Jesus' weaknesses. Before you go, if this message spoke to you, like this podcast and subscribe so you don't miss what God is doing here at Catch on Fire Podcasts. If you are ready for real change, take a moment right now to pray with me. Jesus, I give you my life. Lead me, forgive me, and make me new. If you pray that, welcome to the family. Follow along, stay connected, and let's walk this walk together. Please join me as we confess words of life over all of our lives. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are still holding on to God's unchanging hand. We are still in God's holy plan. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living holy lives as God requires. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, giving clothes to those in need, ministering to the sick and visiting those in prison, and we are doing so to the least of those among us, as when we do so we are ministering to Jesus. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we have received healing, as by his tribes we are healed. From the crown of our head to the soles of our feet, all of our bodily organs are working correctly. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that God is ordering our steps, that all weapons that are formed against us have been utterly and completely destroyed, and every tongue that is rising against us in judgment is condemned. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that all generational curses are cancelled. Anything that runs in our ancestral bloodline that is not of God has no power over us, our children and our grandchildren, and is eliminated forever right now. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that angels are watching over and keeping our family, our children, our grandchildren, our loved ones safe. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that every negative word that has been and is being spoken over our lives and that of our family, children, grandchildren, and loved ones is cancelled and sent back to the pit from whence it came. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are the head and not the tail. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are not and will never be ashamed. Our enemies have not and never will triumph over us. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that anything that is not of God that has been dispatched to hinder our blessings, our progress, and our well-being is immediately destroyed. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are financially in line with God's word, and as such we are lenders and not borrowers. As a result, all of our debts have been paid and are forgiven. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that the enemy of our souls has no authority over our finances and our funds, and that we are good stewards of the money that God has placed in our keeping. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus in the area of business and our carriers, that just as Isaac reaped a hundredfold, the blessings of Abraham are falling on us, and we are reaping a hundredfold from whatever we put our hands to. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living under an open heaven in every area of our lives. Blessings are falling on us, our family and our loved ones. These blessings are being manifested in our lives, in the spiritual and in the physical. Let's repeat the 23rd Psalm together. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restored my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen.